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SAN ANTONIO--Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and a member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement in response to President Trump’s promise to finish the border fence ahead of the 2020 presidential election and fast-track billions of dollars’ worth of construction contracts, seize private land and disregard environmental standards, all the while promising to pardon subordinates of any illegal or potential wrongdoing to complete the work:

“Our President is panicked by his inability to fulfill a racist campaign promise to build his wall. In yet another example, he is trampling on the law and on the rights of Texas land owners, shedding any semblance of ethical standards by promising to pardon lawbreaking aides who help him. This Administration continues to normalize immoral and illegal behavior. We cannot become hardened to the President’s reckless rhetoric and his promise to “take the land,” which only works to further demonize human beings fleeing to our border, seeking refuge from violence and persecution.

“In February, I introduced the resolution to reject the President’s sham emergency declaration at our border. That legislation overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate, but was vetoed by the President. The racial resentment he stokes to rally his base and the impeachable actions he takes to win elections is couched by our Republican leaders and his aides. This ongoing complicity cannot be lost on any of us.”